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Plenty | Introduction

On April 7,1978, Plenty was performed for the first time at London's Lyttelton Theatre. Its author, David Hare, directed this production starring Kate Nelligan as the play's protagonist, Susan Traherne. Plenty is one of Hare's most successful plays and the work with which he is most closely identified. Despite being one of the playwright's more popular works, the critical reception to Plenty was initially mixed. The play received a rather cool reception in England during its initial-production, yet met with great approval in its U.S. debut in 1980 (the play's 1985 film adaptation was also greeted more favorably in America) The work's American popularity and the reluctance of British critics to embrace Plenty are at odds with both the author and the play's pedigree. Hare is an Englishman and Plenty—like the bulk of his work—is primarily set in England and deals with distinctly British themes. Like many literary works, however, tune has shown Hare's play to be a valuable part of British (and worldwide) drama, the work gained new respect in the 1980s and 1990s—thanks largely to the successful movie adaptation.

As with the majority of his work, Hare's Plenty is noted for its well-defined characters, incisive dialogue, cinematic staging techniques, and a concern for social/political issues (Hare is an active socialist). The character of Susan is often cited as a prime example of the playwright's facility with strong female characters: in Dreams and Deconstructions: Alternative Theatre in Britain, Steve Grant noted that Traherne is Hare's "most colossal role to date." Susan is a woman conflicted by the triumphs of her past and the mundane nature of her present circumstances. Plenty does not follow a linear chronology but rather shifts back and forth through Susan's adult life. In this manner Hare illustrates not only how one's youthful dreams are rarely realized but how a character's personal life can affect the outside world. This conflict of personal versus private life is often seen as one of the play's central themes. Audiences have been attracted to Plenty for this reason as well as for the play's unique characters, unconventional structure, and its bittersweet examination of lost youth and dreams.

Plenty Summary

Scene 1
The play opens on Easter Sunday in Knightsbridge, England. The year is 1962. In this opening scene Susan Traherne gives her house to her friend of fifteen years, Alice Park. Alice intends to use the house as a home for unmarried mothers. Susan's husband, Raymond Brock, lies on the floor naked, bloodied (though unharmed), and full of Scotch and the drug Nembutal; he does not move throughout the scene. Susan leaves her husband at the end of the scene. She does not, however, take any of his possessions.

Scene 2
Scene 2 flashes back to the year 1943. The location is occupied France, where Susan works for the English government as part of the resistance efforts against Germany in World War II. In this scene, Susan awaits a shipment of explosives and guns to be parachuted down to her. Hearing a plane and thinking the drop is early, Susan flashes a beam of light only to find another English agent, Lazar, who is bailing out of his failing plane. Susan helps him parachute to safety. The two discuss the irony that the more successful they are at diverting the Germans from their military goals, the longer the war seems to continue. While they wait, the shipment drop arrives and it is taken by a Frenchman. Susan and Lazar argue with the man as to whom the supplies belong. Eventually, and by gun point, Susan and Lazar retrieve the shipment of arms from the Frenchman. Susan breaks down and confesses that she is not an agent, only a courier, and that she is afraid to die.

Scene 3
Scene 3 takes place in Brussels in June, 1947. After traveling with Susan in Europe, Mr. Tony Radley, a friend who served in the war with Susan as a wireless operator, drops dead in their hotel lobby. Susan approaches the British Embassy for assistance, pretending to be Tony's wife. After Sir Leonard Darwin, the British Ambassador, leaves the room, Susan asks Raymond Brock, then the Third Secretary, to call Pony's wife to explain how he died. Susan and Raymond discuss whether Raymond should tell the widow that Tony was traveling with Susan. Susan discloses that her relationship with Tony was not unphysical, but she claims nonetheless that it was innocent. Brock decides to lie to Tony's wife. Darwin returns and he and Susan discuss what the Ambassador perceives to be the great rebuilding of Europe in the postwar period.

Scene 4
Scene 4 is set in Pimlico (a suburb of London) in September, 1947. In a conversation with Alice, Susan repeatedly states how much she needs change and that she would like to move on. Susan also discusses her dissatisfaction with her job and her boss, who she believes is making sexual overtures towards her. Susan makes Raymond, now her lover, an omelet while Alice... » Complete Plenty Summary